How to beat the winter blues

Hey Everyone! So while there are a lot of really great things about winter: fun family activities, cozy evenings curled up with a book and a cup of tea, they don't always hold off those winter blues. Here's an antidote to try!
Have an awesome week. ❤️
"Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it's thinking of yourself less." CS Lewis
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About Me
I'm a young mom living in an intentional community called the Bruderhof, and vlogging about what that's like.
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What is the Bruderhof?
The Bruderhof is an intentional Christian community of people living in radical discipleship in the spirit of the first church in Jerusalem. We gladly renounce private property and share everything in common. Our vocation is a life of service to God, each other, and you. Learn more at the Bruderhof KZbin channel: ► www.youtube.co...
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[@sassy3923]

Does anyone know of any person more cute, fun-loving and innocent as Laura? I'm so glad she's a part of our world.....

[@fairywar]

One can only love her. She brings such joy and brightness

[@blaithinlynch6189]

I love this. When you're feeling low from SAD you naturally introvert yourself. It's a natural safety measure that's instinctive through our evolution. That tip to focus on others, to go and help others either through works or prayer is brilliant. (I'm someone who lives with depression and who's studied psychology and neuropsychology so I can understand). By focussing on others you're changing what your brain is doing, what those neurons are doing, what the molecules resulting from that change are doing. But it takes work to be able to do that, and I love that you are working on it. Good for you! Keep it up.

[@LaurafromtheBruderhof]

Yes! It does take work, but it's totally worth it. Thank you for your words. Have a great day!

[@Ralfrobot]

I love lamps more and more as I get older

[@delphinium5555]

You brought a smile to my face, Laura x

[@cynthiakarazim2197]

I imagine upstate New York is similar to Michigan in winter where I live. Short, grey days, barren landscape, snow and ice. At nearly 71 I find a good book, hot beverage, knitting, journaling, phone visits with friends and family all help. I also love to cook and bake, fill the house with wonderful aromas. And your calm, contemplative videos of course! Thank you for your kind words...spring is one day closer❣️☀️

[@LaurafromtheBruderhof]

Yes Cynthia! Thank you. Have a wonderful rest of your week!

[@monikamarsollek3493]

Same here in Germany at the age of 66, except ice and snow so far! Love, Monika❣

[@karmonbrown5107]

Get yourself off your mind. Best advice ever

[@Ralfrobot]

Yes it’s a good way to put it think less of oneself , and perhaps even notice how fun nature can be - it really is expressing joy even in winter - nature seems to have many little stories to offer in very unspoken ways ... it does seem God speaks most loudly through his non verbal visible world - animals birds sky water and sun and light

[@glynnyschiavoni8896]

Your own humility and sense of fun shine very brightly in this dark world, Laura! Thank you. Glynny from upstate NY🙏

[@bmwood0827]

I used to suffer terribly from winter depression, especially around February. Now, when I start to feel it coming on, I know I need to exercise, stay away from sugar, connect with others and, above all stay close in prayer with God. I often think of people like Paul, who found the secret of being content in any and every situation. Thinking of him singing praise while in prison also gives me hope when I’m feeling down. Each day is a new beginning! Gerry and I love your videos, which are also antidotes for the blues. Thank you for sharing about CS Lewis and humility. Great strategy for those times when we can’t sleep in the middle of the night!

[@LaurafromtheBruderhof]

Thank you Barbara! Such hopeful words!

[@lailja21]

Yes*** Humility is not thinking less of yourself...simply thinking of yourself less!! Wow Love it. Thank you for sharing. Ditto..."way to go cslewis!"

[@greetje5756]

Always when I look at your messages, I have a big smile on my face. Thank you for beating the winter blues, and for the words of CS Lewis!

[@andrewdewitt7234]

Light treatment works! Try using a daylight type bulb next to your computer screen for 3-4 hours a day 😎

[@dawnmorandin541]

We have adopted a senior cat, so looking forward to cuddles on the couch, I have a light which I use but it is not something which you can definitely say helps or not...it's very cold today so cups of tea and chocolate 😀

[@LaurafromtheBruderhof]

That does sound cozy!

[@crystalsmith4670]

Your videos always brighten my day☀️

[@lornam3637]

Yes! I love C. S. Lewis too - 'The Great Divorce' is my absolute favourite.

[@LaurafromtheBruderhof]

Awesome! I think "Mere Christianity' is mine

[@hattie-thebatty-2486]

Bless you Laura. Once again you have said just the right thing Thank you so much, SAD & mental issues need to be discussed more 😊

[@LaurafromtheBruderhof]

Yes! You are so right

[@julienyholm1056]

In Australia it’s Summer it has been in the high 30’s degrees. Humidity is very high.

[@safehaven2763]

Lol, lights already on, so funny! I find vitamin d tablets excellent during winter months!!!

[@mritchie85]

Winter blues all year round in Scotland lol SAD is Scottish affective disorder btw

[@tinakushner1758]

Hahaha hilarious!

[@lornam3637]

Spare a thought for England - at least you get some brightening snow sometimes 😂

[@mritchie85]

@@lornam3637 haha always look on the bright side eh, currently gale force winds and raining, time to get the kite's out!

[@benfir8920]

I just poured myself a cup of coffee and saw this video with you and your cup of tea! Haha! Coincidence.

[@mailill]

Beating the winter blues by being FIRST! 😁

[@heathermemacdonald]

Give the light treatment a try! It's worked wonders for me

[@suzannepeck5610]

Laura: You are so beautiful and wise! I often walk out to my back yard for just a few minutes to absorb some Vitamin D on cold, sunny days,,which we’re having lots of these days in Northern Virginia! Best, Suzanne Peck

[@Noone-rt6pw]

Mrs. Laura, I have reason to say this, ask if she'll get a Coleman lantern, where put on low. Even an oil lamp can make a difference. Electric lights don't do much. Too bright or something. Especially while cold. Im not attempting to diagnose or anything like that, but I know where she's coming from. Also, a Coleman lantern has this sound I always liked. Much like living on the Mississippi, huge ships passed by, with a steady rhythm of the prop hitting the water,.Just a note, some have stated the sound of a ships prop has stimulated catfish to bite. Then, any number of times,I'll tune the radio on a talk show of something of interesting, like Art Bell, where he talks about spooks, UFO's and everything else, even interviewing exorcists, sometimes witches, psychics. No hype put in his voice, but a calm slow speech. A lot of people really enjoyed him. Many times, I also pull up you tube on my phone, where I listen to Art if there's something interesting, many times I'll pull up books of the Bible. Which some sound better than others. Even C.S. Lewis, but with his accent it sometimes requires some effort to understand what he's saying. A Coleman lantern, it makes a different, which it doesn't put off this big powerful bright light, then the steady sound of the burn, flow of gas sounds good. Something to block out the deafening silence at time. I've used an oil lamp as well. Again, I'm not suggesting diagnosis or remedy, but it's worth mentioning to her. A cell phone with something desirable to listen too. The radio is preferred as it goes until I wake. But finding something or someone to listen too. As there unshackled, a ministry I heard for years, but it's short. But having light and something g to block out outside "noise" as well as something desirable to hear to break the silence. It's worth a shot if she's interested. Anxiety, panic attacks can kill you! I've seen it documented, but I also witnessed it with a trapped possum. He went ape. Most do not do that.

[@Noone-rt6pw]

To edit my comment, when using Bible books, I use a long book that's 6 hours or longer. Which there's also books as by C.S. Lewis.

[@Noone-rt6pw]

Here's Ezekiel, it's 4+ hours, if your friend would like.

[@Noone-rt6pw]

If your friend has a cell phone, here's a Bible book that's about 4 hours. This is a good sound version to me. Pull up you tube on cell, place beside bed. Unless it would disturb her.

[@michaelgibbs3147]

I’m getting upset Laura where is that infamous hello wave of yours? ;-)

[@LaurafromtheBruderhof]

Sorry Michael 😁 Next time!

[@MurmilloTV1]

Do you also have groups in Germany, Laura?

[@LaurafromtheBruderhof]

Yes we do. Also Austria www.bruderhof.com/en/where-we-are#germany

[@MurmilloTV1]

@@LaurafromtheBruderhof Can you still speak German?

[@Noone-rt6pw]

You mention grey days as well as your friend with anxiety, I can tell you anxiety and panic attacks are rough st night especially. Just trying to go to sleep. I mention using a light as a Coleman lantern or oil lamp, it can help, as can something as a good story or radio station. But, I will mention meds are needed. I've heard others try to dismiss such, where they laugh at such, where there's cold blooded jackasses. Its important not to trivialize anything. It is very invalidating, which like goody too shoes types having simple answers can be very invalidating which is cruel. Much like claustropgobia. Which really turns me against Republicans and Conservatives. What's worse is so many conservatives associate with Christianity, people that know little to nothing about such. Which as written, even the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel. Where trivializing, invalidating is cruel.